The young Filipino chess wizard opted to join the Sept. 19-29 Texas instead of campaigning in the 4th President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo (PGMA) Cup International Chess Championship which will run from Sept. 24 to 30 at Duty Free Fiestamall in Paranque City, the Asian Indoor Games in Vietnam from Sept. 30 to Oct. 8, and the 5th Prospero A. Pichay Jr. Cup from Oct. 1 to 8 at the Local Water Utilities Administration Bldg. in Quezon City.

The two other pairs in round one all ended in draws, namely Akobian vs. Mamedov, Andreikin vs. Hammer.

In the second round late in the afternoon Sunday So will be facing Hammer. Mamedov is facing Kuzubov while Akobian will square it with Andrekin.
So, playing with white, avoided the popular Nimzo-Indian and went for Catalan Opening by opting to push g3 in the third move after the book opening d4 Nf6 and c4 e6.
He still salvaged a draw in spite of 43 seconds left after 22 moves as against Kozubov’s 1.05 minutes. -30-